Dear NASET News,

Welcome toNASET'sWEEK in REVIEW. Here, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASETto read and or download, as well as some of the most interesting articles that have happened this week in the field of special education. We hope you enjoy this publication. Feel free to send us articles for this publication or let us know your thoughts about theWEEK in REVIEWatnews@naset.org.Have a great weekend.Sincerely,

Let's start with IDEA's full requirement for specifying a child's related services in his or her IEP. This appears at§300.320(a)(4)and stipulates that each child's IEP must contain:

(4)A statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services, based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable, to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child, and a statement of the program modifications or supports for school personnel that will be provided to enable the child-

(i)To advance appropriately toward attaining the annual goals;

(ii)To be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities; and

(iii)To be educated and participate with other children with disabilities and non-disabled children in the activities described in this section...[§300.320(a)(4)]

NASET Sponsor - Liberty Mutual

Draft of Next Generation of Educator Preparation Accreditation Standards Released for Public Comment

As the new national accreditor for educator preparation, theCouncil for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation(CAEP) is seeking public comment on the draft of the next generation of accreditation standards and performance measures. All stakeholders in education and educator preparation are encouraged to review and comment on the draft standards, which are available for public comment through March 29. Please visithttp://caepnet.orgor follow @CAEPupdates on Twitter for the most up-to-date information.

Reduced 'Fine-Tuning' of Brain May Hamper Face Recognition in Autism

A malfunction in a specific group of brain cells may explain why some people with autism have difficulty recognizing faces, a small new study finds. Researchers used functional MRI to scan the brains of 15 adults with autism. In some of the patients, neurons in the brain area that processes faces -- the fusiform face area (FFA) -- were too broadly "tuned" to distinguish between facial features of different people. "When your brain is processing faces, you want neurons to respond selectively so that each is picking up a different aspect of individual faces. The neurons need to be finely tuned to understand what is dissimilar from one face to another," study senior investigator Maximilian Riesenhuber, an associate professor of neuroscience at Georgetown University Medical Center, said in a center news release. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

An accommodation is a change that helps a student overcome or work around the disability. These changes are typically physical or environmental changes. Allowing a student who has trouble writing to give his answers orally is an example of an accommodation. This sort of accommodation extends across assignments and content areas.

Antipsychotic Drug Use Rising for Kids on Medicaid, Study Finds

Use of antipsychotic drugs among Medicaid-insured children increased sharply from 1997 to 2006, according to a new study. These drugs were prescribed for children covered by Medicaid five times more often than for children with private insurance. Researchers said this disparity should be examined more closely, particularly because these drugs were often prescribed for a so-called off-label use, which is when a drug is used in a different way than has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Many [of the children] were diagnosed with behavioral rather than psychotic conditions for which [these drugs] have FDA-approved labeling," study author Julie Zito, a professor in the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, said in a university news release. To read more,click here

NASET Sponsor - Perkins eLearning

News Coverage of Shootings May Boost Stigma of Mental Illness

Media coverage of mass shootings by people with mental illnesses may heighten the stigma that already surrounds people struggling with mental disorders, a new study suggests. The researchers also found that public support for policies to reduce gun violence rises after news coverage of mass shootings. Specifically, people who read a news story describing a mass shooting were more likely than those who did not read such an article to support gun restrictions for people with serious mental illness, and for a ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines. "The aftermath of mass shootings is often viewed as a window of opportunity to garner support for policies to reduce gun violence, and this study finds public support for such policies increases after reading news stories about a mass shooting," study lead author Emma McGinty, a doctoral candidate with the Center for Gun Policy and Research at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in a Hopkins news release. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

Suicidal Thoughts More Common in Kids With Autism: Study

Children with autism may have a higher-than-average risk of contemplating or attempting suicide, a new study suggests. Researchers found that mothers of children with autism were much more likely than other moms to say their child had talked about or attempted suicide: 14 percent did, versus 0.5 percent of mothers whose kids didn't have the disorder. The behavior was more common in older kids (aged 10 and up) and those whose mothers thought they were depressed, as well as kids whose moms said they were teased. To read more,click here

GEEO Travel Programs for Educators

Global Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO) is a non-profit organization that runs summer professional development travel programs designed for teachers.

Educators have the option to earn graduate school credit and professional development credit while seeing the world. The trips are 8 to 24 days in length and are designed and discounted to be interesting and affordable for teachers. GEEO provides teachers educational materials and the structure to help them bring their experiences into the classroom. The trips are open to all nationalities of K-12 and university educators and administrators, as well as retired educators. Educators are also permitted to bring along a non-educator guest.

Detailed information about each trip, including itineraries, costs, travel dates, and more can be found atwww.geeo.org. GEEO can be reached 7 days a week, toll free at 1-877-600-0105 between 9AM-9PM EST

Having Older Grandfather May Raise Child's Autism Risk: Study

The odds that a child will develop autism could be linked to their grandfather's age at the time they were born, a new Swedish study suggests. The study found that men who fathered a child at the age of 50 or older were more likely to have a grandchild with autism, suggesting that the risk might be passed down through successive generations. Men who had a daughter at age 50 or older were 79 percent more likely to have a grandchild with autism compared to men who fathered when they were in their early 20s, the research team reported in the March 20 issue of the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Men who fathered a son at age 50 or older had a 67 percent higher risk of having a grandchild with the disorder compared to men who fathered a child as young adults. To read more,click here

NASET Sponsor - Arkansas State University

SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW SYMPOSIUM AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY, JUNE 23-28, 2013

Designed for a national audience, this intensive one-week, well-balanced program is available on both a non-credit and graduate-credit basis and provides a thorough analysis of the leading issues under the IDEA and Section 504. Among the 19 symposium sessions are the following "hot topics": RTI; discipline, including a mock manifestation determination hearing; child find; transitional services; tuition reimbursement and other remedies; disability-related bullying; and autism.

Special features include:

Parallel tracks for basic and advanced practitioners, starting with a keynote dinner presentation by Dr. Melody Musgrove, Director, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education and ending with a post-luncheon crystal-ball culminating presentationled by national consultant and trainer Julie Weatherly, Esq., recipient of the 2012 National CASE Award for Outstanding Service.

Balance of district, parent, and neutral perspectives with a specialized set of topics and presenters for the advanced track.

The symposium will take place on the beautiful campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., located just 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 70 miles south of New York City, with access from Lehigh Valley (ABE), Newark, and Philadelphia International airports.

Meth in Pregnancy May Blunt Child's Reaction to Stress: Study

If a woman uses methamphetamine during pregnancy, that illegal drug use along with an unstable home environment may lead to an abnormal response to stress in her children, according to the results of a study of 2-year-olds. Because methamphetamine stimulates the nervous system, prenatal exposure to this drug may affect the development of a child's stress-response system, the researchers explained in the report published in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Then, if the child is repeatedly exposed to serious stress at an early age -- such as violence in the home -- "the system wears down," said Barry Lester, director of the Brown Center for Children at Risk at Women and Infants Hospital and Brown Medical School in Providence, R.I. To read more,click here

Women Abused in Childhood at Higher Odds of Having Child With Autism: Study

Women who were physically, emotionally or sexually abused as children are more likely to have a child with autism, a new study suggests. For women who suffered the most severe abuse, the risk more than tripled, the researchers found. "This is a completely new risk factor for autism," said lead investigator Andrea Roberts, a research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Child abuse has a horrible effect on individuals who experience it, but the effects might reach across generations," she said. "The more abuse a woman had been exposed to in her own childhood, the more likely she was to have a child with autism." To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Modifications are generally connected to instruction and assessment;, things that can be tangibly changed or modified. Usually a modification means a change in what is being taught to or expected from the student. Making the assignment easier so the student is not doing the same level of work as other students is an example of a modification. This change is specific to a particular type of assignment. Making a slight modification to an assignment can drastically improve a student's ability to be academically successful. Changing what is being taught could make the difference in whether a student becomes proficient in the general education curriculum, which in turn could result in the attainment of a regular diploma as opposed to achieving an IEP diploma.

Study: Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy May Not Affect Baby's Growth

Taking antidepressants during pregnancy does not have an impact on an infant's growth during the first year of life, a new study says. Previous research suggested that depression during pregnancy could slow infant growth, but there were concerns that prescribing antidepressants to pregnant women might also hinder a baby's physical development. In this study, Northwestern University researchers found that infants born to mothers who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants during pregnancy had a similar weight, length and head circumference over the first year as babies born to mothers who did not have depression and did not take antidepressants during pregnancy. To read more,click here

who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question: The "Father of American Public Education" isHorace Mann.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

Fill in the blank: Suppose you were reading an educational evaluation and it stated that Billy had a z-score of - 2.0 in Spelling. This means that Billy scored two ________ below the mean in Spelling when compared to the norms for his age group.

All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, April 1, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

Brain Circuitry Yields Clue to Autism, Researchers Say

A problem with a certain brain circuit may be one reason why 7-month-old infants who later develop autism are slower to shift their gaze and attention from one object to another, compared with infants who do not develop autism. That's the finding of a study that included 97 children who underwent an eye-tracking test and brain scan at age 7 months and a full clinical assessment at age 25 months. The results showed that infants later diagnosed with autism were about 50 milliseconds slower in shifting their gaze from one object to another, compared with those who did not develop autism. To read more,click here

Gene Mutations Appear Key to Childhood Leukemia Risk, Study Says

Children who inherit certain variations in four particular genes have an increased risk of developing childhood leukemia, a new study says. The researchers also found that Hispanic children are more likely than white or black children to inherit high-risk versions of two of the genes that can lead to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Rates of ALL are higher in Hispanic children than in white or black children, and these findings point to at least one reason for that difference, according to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital-led study. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

Nursing Shortage May Harm Infants in Intensive Care, Study Says

Nurse understaffing is widespread in U.S. neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and linked with higher rates of infection, a new study indicates. Researchers looked at data from more than 11,000 infants with very low birth weights who spent at least three days in NICUs in the United States in 2008 and 2009. They also examined data on NICU staffing levels of registered nurses. Nurse understaffing occurred for 32 percent of all infants in NICUs and for 85 percent of infants who required higher levels of care, according to the study published online March 18 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. To read more,click here

Robots Show Promise For Social Skills Development

New research suggests that robots could offer a remarkable tool to help children with disabilities master social skills. Using a modified version of a so-called humanoid robot, researchers at Vanderbilt University say they've found that children with autism respond positively to the two-foot-tall device, which could one day supplement time spent with a human therapist. For the study, autism researchers and mechanical engineers augmented an existing robot with webcams to track a child's movement and create an "intelligent environment" allowing the device to respond to the scenario. Programmed with prompts like "look over here," the robot is able to make head and hand gestures and, much like a therapist, it instructs a user to do certain tasks and praises a job well done. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

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NASET Sponsor - Cal Poly Pomona

Disability Bias Clouding Organ Transplants, Report Finds

People with developmental disabilities who are in need of life-saving organ transplants are facing widespread discrimination from health care providers, a new report indicates. In what's believed to be the first comprehensive look at the experiences of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities seeking transplants, advocates found that individuals are routinely turned down for the procedures due to their special needs. Thereportreleased this week by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network indicates that doctors often weigh the presence of a developmental disability when making decisions about transplant eligibility, but to what degree varies largely depending on the type of organ needed. To read more,click here

In Twist, School Practices 'Reverse Inclusion'

A unique approach at one Ohio school has typically developing teens entering the world of special education for an eye-opening experience. Through a semester-long elective at Kenston High School in Bainbridge, Ohio, high school juniors and seniors work side-by-side in a special education classroom with their peers who have special needs. An outgrowth of a club, the course focuses on the history and experiences of individuals with disabilities. Typically developing students act as role models and are asked to do a series of creative, independent projects like organizing a dance or a talent show. To read more,click here

Pennsylvania Ponders Changes to Special Education Funding Formula

After trying more than once to do so, Pennsylvania is poised to make a change in its 22-year-old funding formula for special education. Last week the state House passed, on a 193-0 vote,a billthat would create a 15-member commission to study the issue and develop a recommendation that would take into account the severity of a student's disability when it comes to funding districts. Enrollment and district wealth would also play a factor in determining how much special education money a district would get. The Patriot-News in central Pennsylvania described the current funding landscape and recent political moves in aneditorialthat spoke in favor of the changes. To read more,click here

NASET Sponsor - Arkansas State University

Did You Know That....

The reality is that oftentimes a student requires both modifications and accommodations to support learning. Modifications and/or accommodations are most often made in scheduling, setting, materials, instruction, and student response. Modifications deliberately lower the intellectual level of the instructional content delivered, while accommodations are generally best practices used for all students, in a differentiated classroom. What is most important to know about modifications and accommodations is that both are meant to help children learn.

Resources for Special Education and the Common Core

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), one of the two consortia tasked with creating tests for the Common Core State Standards, has released alist of resourcesfor special educators who want to learn more about how the education standards may affect children with disabilities. The list is not comprehensive, but it offers a good general overview, with links to basic information on the common core as well as lesson ideas and other tools. The education standards have been adopted by all but four states. To read more,click here

'Critical Friends' Review Districts' Special Ed. Programs

Looking at the numbers, the leaders of the Tacoma, Wash., school district knew that the 30,000-student district was not serving students with disabilities as well as it could. About 12 percent of the 30,000 students in the district are in special education. But among those students, four in 10 attend special programs that are housed outside of their base schools, a trend that goes against current best practices, which push for inclusion whenever possible. The district was also failing to meet proficiency targets for students with disabilities. The district invited theUrban Special Education Leadership Collaborativeto conduct a qualitative assessment of its program,the results of which were released in February. And David P. Riley, the executive director of the collaborative, says to expect more districts to take a hard look at their special education programs as they work to meet the requirements of the Common Core State Standards, now adopted by all but four states. To read more,click here

NASET Sponsor - Perkins eLearning

NASET's Latest Job Listings

* Head Teacher, First and Second Grade - The Eliot-Pearson Children's School is a laboratory demonstration school for the Department of Child Development at Tufts University. The school enrolls approximately 85 children ages 3-8. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Shows an unwavering commitment to improving the knowledge, skills, and lives of students with disabilities. Mastery is looking for teachers who are committed to outrageously high expectations and high support for students. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Case Manager - Ensures that the students on their caseload achieve academic success, across all subjects, as measured by achievement on Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals, student grades, and the PSSA. To learn more - Click here

* Teacher: Special Education-BD/ED K-12 - Special Education Services (a member of The Menta Group) is currently seeking a progressive state certified special education teacher for academic and career-path class's k-12 to join the clinical team at our therapeutic day school in the Country Club Hills area. To learn more - Click here

* $125,000 Salary for Master Middle School Teachers - Earn a $125,000 salary and join a team of master teachers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, recently featured on the front page of the New York Times. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Hillside Academy West Campus (HAWC), an affiliate of The Menta Group® (www.thementagroup.org), is a Special Education school with a kindergarten through 12th grade therapeutic educational services program for Behavior, Emotional, and Developmentally disabled children living in the Chicago, Illinois Metro Area. To learn more - Click here

* Master Teacher - Are you an innovative early childhood educator who enjoys creating the foundation for children's education? Do you love motivating students and their parents to develop the abilities, attitudes, skills, and knowledge that will prepare them for a successful life of learning? Then we have the career you are looking for! To learn more - Click here

Food For Thought..........

In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.